Billy Boyle’s company, Owlstone Medical, has started the world’s largest study of its kind, with 1,400 patients - to detect colorectal cancer using a breathalyzer.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer killer worldwide, with 215,000 deaths every year at a cost of $99 billion.

Current fecal screening tests are unpleasant and, as a result, have a low compliance rate. This, combined with relatively low test sensitivity, particularly in early disease stages, means that too many patients are diagnosed with late stage disease and die.

The trial follows a successful pilot study using Owlstone Medical’s technology, which showed sensitivity of 88% in detecting signs of colorectal cancer.

In addition, the pilot study showed sensitivity of 62% for detection of advanced adenomas, a pre-cancerous stage of colorectal cancer, representing a substantial increase in the rate of detection compared with the fecal blood tests based on detecting blood in feces that are used currently within the NHS bowel cancer screening programme.

The trial is being run in collaboration with Warwick University and the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust with consultant gastroenterologist Prof Ramesh Arasaradnam as principal investigator for the study.

The work has received widespread support from research organisations and charities including Bowel Cancer UK, CRUK, the NCRI colorectal screening & prevention sub-group and the NIRI Clinical Research Network.

Billy Boyle, co-founder and CEO at Owlstone Medical, said: “A combination of low compliance and low sensitivity of current tests means too many patients are diagnosed when the cancer is at an advanced stage and survival chances are very poor. Two years ago my wife died of colorectal cancer as a direct result of late diagnosis. Early detection is our greatest opportunity for saving lives when chances of survival are higher than 90% - through our trial we hope to make this a reality for more patients.”

Deborah Alsina, CEO, Bowel Cancer UK said: “The UK has had a bowel cancer screening programme using stool testing for just over 10 years but it remains an unacceptable test to many people leading to low uptake.

“While pilot studies have shown this will improve with the introduction of the simpler fecal immunochemical test, an alternative to stool testing would be welcome both potentially as a population screening test and as a method primary care could use to triage people more effectively to further diagnostic testing such as a colonoscopy.

“Detecting bowel cancer early when treatment is more effective must remain our priority so we very much look forward to seeing the results of this innovative new approach to the earlier diagnosis of bowel cancer.”

Prof Arasaradnam said: “My group have collaborated with Owlstone for several years in the discovery of biomarkers for a range of diseases including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and tuberculosis. We are very impressed with the capability of Owlstone’s new non-invasive technology and are excited to be working with Owlstone on this important trial.”